The Indian contingent wrapped up a promising run at the WTT Star Contender Muscat 2025, earning two bronze medals in doubles events on a highly competitive day of action in Oman.
The pair of Manush Shah and Diya Chitale reached the semifinals of the mixed doubles, while Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar entered the last four in the men’s doubles category, ensuring India’s presence on the podium despite facing world-class opposition. Both Indian pairs showed quality, tactical maturity, and resilience throughout the tournament, defeating higher-ranked opponents before falling to elite Asian pairs in the semifinals. The results underline the growing maturity of India’s doubles combinations, particularly as the nation targets consistency ahead of the 2026 season and the major championship cycle beyond.
Mixed Doubles: Manush Shah & Diya Chitale Settle for Bronze After Falling to Olympic Bronze Medalists Lin/Cheng
In the mixed doubles semifinals, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale ran into one of the strongest pairs in the world Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei, Olympic bronze medallists and one of the most experienced combinations on tour. The Taiwanese duo prevailed 3–1 (9–11, 13–11, 11–5, 11–5) in a match that saw the Indian pair start brightly before being outpaced in the final three games.
Manush and Diya produced a superb opening game, showing excellent tempo variation and decisive forehand control from Manush at the table. Their proactive start earned them an 11–9 win and early momentum. The second game was the turning point of the tie India led at stages and even held opportunities to close it out but Lin and Cheng, known for their composure under pressure, edged a tense 13–11 finish to level the match.
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From that point onward, the Olympic bronze medallists tightened their structure. Cheng’s deep placement and Lin’s fast countering game forced the Indian pair on the defensive. Despite flashes of quality from Manush’s backhand blocks and Diya’s timely flicks, India struggled to generate sustained pressure. Lin–Cheng closed the match with two dominant 11–5 games, advancing to the final while the Indians secured a well-earned bronze medal.
Earlier in the day, Manush and Diya had been outstanding in their quarterfinal match, sweeping aside Mladenovic/Varady 3–0 (11–4, 11–5, 11–5). Their aggressive returns and quick transitions made the difference performance that marked one of their strongest outings of the season.
Men’s Doubles: Manush–Manav Fight Hard, Claim Bronze After Tough SF Loss to Singapore’s Pang/Quek
In the men’s doubles semifinals, the Indian pair of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar faced the in-form Singaporean duo Pang Yew En Koen and Quek Izaac, who delivered a polished 3–0 win for a spot in the final. The Indians, coming off a gritty 3–2 comeback win earlier in the quarterfinals, could not match the speed and precision of their opponents, losing 0–3 (7–11, 5–11, 6–11).
The quarterfinal had showcased the Indian pair’s resilience. Trailing against Japan’s Hamada/Sakai, Manush and Manav mounted a spirited fightback to win 3–2 (11–8, 9–11, 11–7, 5–11, 11–5). Their tactical adjustments particularly Manav’s tighter control in the middle phase and Manush’s decisive finishing shots were central to turning the match around. Against Pang/Quek in the semifinals, however, the Indians struggled to impose themselves. The Singaporean pair dominated the short-ball exchanges and forced errors with rapid forehand counters. India stayed competitive in patches but were unable to convert pressure into game-winning runs, eventually settling for bronze.
Singles Results: Tough Day for Indian Players
India’s singles challenge ended in the Round of 32:
S. Mukherjee lost 1–3 (7–11, 11–6, 10–12, 9–11) to Japan’s Miyu Nagasaki after a strong mid-match fightback. Manav Thakkar was defeated 0–3 (4–11, 2–11, 8–11) by Japan’s Yoshiyama, who kept the Indian shuttled wide and out of rhythm throughout the contest.
With two bronze medals one in mixed doubles and one in men’s doubles India’s campaign at WTT Star Contender Muscat 2025 highlights the growing depth and international potential in the doubles department. Both pairs showed quality and promise against elite opposition, and the podium finishes mark a positive end to the event for Indian table tennis.
